It's Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail's IAN LADYMAN reveals what's been making him feel warm and what's been leaving him cold.

HOT

SONNY BRADLEY

After assaulting Liverpool's Emre Can so crudely at Anfield in the FA Cup, the Plymouth centre-half produced an outstanding performance as the teams met again in midweek. The 25-year-old therefore becomes the first person to jump from the bottom half of this column to the top in the space of just a week. I am sure he is thrilled.

Some play for money, some for glory and some just for the love of it. Pennant will always be known for mixed spells at Arsenal and Liverpool but at 34 he is still going. A career that recently included spells in India and Singapore restarts this weekend at Bury of League One. We wish him well.

Jermaine Pennant, last seen in the Premier League with Stoke City, has signed for Bury

THE EUROPEAN TOUR

Changes to the Ryder Cup selection process should ensure skipper Thomas Bjorn has the right men in his team in 2018. Time now for a look at the captaincy issue, too. It's baffling that winning captains are discarded after one victory.

European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn should benefit from the new selection process

MAROUANE FELLAINI

The Belgian continues to find a way to be useful for Manchester United and now has a contract extension. Visitors to the club shop this week still caught staff on the hop when they asked for Fellaini's name on a shirt, though. 'Oh, we don't get asked for many of these,' was the reply.

Marouane Fellaini has earned himself a new contract at Manchester United despite criticism

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NOT

KENENISA BEKELE

The great Ethiopian marathon runner predicted he would break the world record in Dubai on Friday only to retire injured after tumbling over at the start. Proof perhaps that too much pride really can precipitate a fall.

JEAN-MICHEL AULAS

The Lyon president described the imminent signing of Manchester United wastrel Memphis Depay as being 'like a dream'. Yes, we have all had those dreams when you inadvertently flush all your money down the toilet.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas (L) laughs with Memphis Depay after signing him for £21.6m

KIERAN RICHARDSON

Depay is not the first one to leave Old Trafford with dreams unfulfilled, of course, and another United alumni is currently finding it hard to extend his career much in to his 30s. Richardson was always talented and has eight England caps to prove it but after being released by Cardiff before Christmas, he is currently without a club.

Former Manchester United man Kieran Richardson now finds himself without a club

BARCELONA

Pere Gratacos has worked for the Catalan club for 18 years in various unheralded roles but was sacked recently for expressing an opinion that 'does not coincide with that of the club'. His crime? To suggest that Barcelona's greatness is not solely down to the individual genius of Lionel Messi. They must want Messi's name on that new contract pretty badly indeed musn't they?

Barcelona are hoping to tie down star man Lionel Messi to a new long-term contract